Not from IIT. Not from IIM. Not from ISB. I often see this line written proudly in bios and Linkedin handles, as if not being from these institutes is a badge of honour. As if mocking them somehow makes you superior. Honestly, I don’t mind it. But I’ve always wondered, why define yourself against something? I’m from IIT Kharagpur and ISB Hyderabad. Not because that defines me, but because it shaped me. It meant being surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the country. It meant realising that intelligence has no single definition. It meant being humbled every single day because there was always someone smarter, sharper, or more hardworking than you. Being from IIT or ISB doesn’t make you better. It makes you aware that the world is full of people who can teach you something.
"Not from IIT/IIM" is rebellion against the scam of coaching industry. IIT IIM dream was sold as a way to escape all the problems in life by coaching industry. This scam is mostly done on upper caste Hindu's of semi urban or rural India because only their relatives lives in Urban India (50% of Urban India, top 10 cities is upper caste Hindu), you can see this in migration data. That's why you don't see OBC ST SC candidates in mainstream coaching industry and female teachers because scam is based on assumption high rank means lifetime intelligence and competence which is a lie, that's why IIT IIM are nowhere when it comes to international rankings because investment in higher research and education can create a culture which exposes the scam. The excessive migration was enabled by the freebie politics of Kejriwal later copied by all other political parties. People who labelled themselves as "Not from IIT/IIM" are mostly men below 35. Checkout the full information about Indian coaching industry here. Part 1 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yashp2411_coaching-activity-7379938200414384128-zp6u Part 2 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yashp2411_coaching-edtech-activity-7380253904447533056-26Wj
Yash Pratapwhen I was in XII th way back in 1991, Coaching Industry for IITs was mostly limited to Correspondence based Agarwal Classes / Brilliant Tutorials. Later on, I think in mid nineties Kota Industry flourished. However, my realization about the greatness of IITs only happened when I saw Alumnus of IITs and their ability to comprehend Engineering more holistically than us. It was already late. But, I took the risk of sacrificing two years salary to pursue full time MTech through GATE at late age of 31. Financially it was a loss, but that two years in IIT changed me as a person. I didn't take any coaching for the same although coaching for GATE also exists.
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIECoaching industry become problematic after 2005. Currently, post EdTech era, IIT coaching is now available in 5000 rupees byPW (PhysicsWallah). World is changed now, specifically after 2018. Now online world outpace offline in many domain and you have now access to world class education at almost free of cost from various universities but the catch is English.
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIEFew difference I found among students and their capabilities after interacting with them and asking questions. Tier 3 Engineering - They think using tools like Salesforce is engineering. Tier 2 Engineering - They think Implementation is engineering as this is what mostly happens in the job IIT Engineering - They know the "Why this solution is better than other using framework A B or C" but they have no idea why the domain exists in the first place. MIT Engineering - They know Why this domain exists in the first place, what they don't know and whom to ask what questions. Good courses are designed according to US and western context, when India develop courses according to Indian context then there will be many great Engineers in India. It's all Politics whether anyone like it or not. There are no internal capabilities issues when it comes to learning, I think China successfully transitioned beyond west.
Yash Pratapwe also have to admit that we come from a nation that is having per capita income in the lower one third of the World. Our aspirations are also limited to where we come from. Me being from West Bengal (Economically Challenged) and Lower Middle Class, my ambitions were limited. OTOH, being from privileged section socially, with Magistrates / ICS/ KBE a few generations back pushed me to aspire high. Economic challenge was a real one that made the completion of BE a challenge in spite of the college fees being next to nothing those days. However, the main challenge was between me earning vs me studying. However, our relatives were kind enough that I could complete my Bachelor of Engineering. I remain grateful to them forever.
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIEyes, I wrote about the same issue few weeks back, our deprevation and privileges are different so our primary ambitions. When we see from male perspective then Doctor > Nurse always but from female perspective the world looks bit different Nurse in UK > Doctor in India as in India women need to face Patriarchy norms despite success which Nurse in UK don't and she can transition to management or better jobs and live far more fulfilling life which seems absurd from common logic but it's true. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yashp2411_career-genz-migrate-activity-7373771450115297280-bPo_ Virginia Woolf, first modern feminist, wrote on this issue 100 years ago in her novel Orlando where she changed the gender of character over a period of centuries and the entire world looks different. However Indian feminist reduce feminism to a joke because their feminism is fueled by caste privilege and that's why it doesn't include Virginia Woolf Simone and neither Savitri and Jyotiba Phule or Dr Ambedkar. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yashp2411_substack-cringe-covertlyabrpatriarchal-activity-7379390799962132480-gand Sociology and Politics plays much bigger role in shaping our ambitions than we think
Yash Pratapgender is another paradigm. And perhaps that is the only class difference that nature has made. The other ones like Race, Religion, Region, Caste, Creed, Color, Nation... Are all man-made. On a lighter vein, I always get confused with the gender of inanimate objects in Hindi. Perhaps this is one reason for my strong detest for Hindi.
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIEGender differences were not significant when humans had no knowledge of productive agriculture. Gender differences became amplified after 1200 BC (post–Iron Age), and other differences—such as caste, color, creed, etc.—arose after that. When we talk about inequality of resources, there must be something considered a resource, and nothing was more productive than agricultural land. There was no rigid concept of marriage among people prior to that, you find it in the time of the Upanishads and Vedas. According to current times, it would be considered a “Western liberal doctrine”. That is why the current narrative of Hinduism revolves around the Manusmriti-based Gupta period (300 CE and later). It is very difficult for orthodox people to digest their own religion.
Yash PratapGupta period is around 300 AD (not BC). The first farmers were actually women. I am personally irreligious and find all religions an attempt to organize the society in a pattern as per the variable vested interest of the religious gurus.
Not from IIT/IIM/ISB etc is "Grapes are Sour" dressed up in a rebellious way. You can simply be proud for your own Almamater instead of being obsessed about IIT/IIM/ISB...
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6 Replies on Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE’s comment
Aashish Agrawalhmmm... Let it be... If they are focussed on our Almamater... In retaliation, we are also getting focussed on their insecurities.... That's not worth our time 😑.
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIEyes Sir. you are right. I think this perception comes from seeing someone wearing a torn T-shirt with an IIT/IIM tag — as if they’re saying, “Hey, look, I’m from IIT! What about you?” 😅 Lol
Tanmoy Dasguptaisn't it like someone wearing a T-Shirt where it is written "I Love India"... If someone who is not from India wears a TShirt where it is written "I am not from India" - then it is a news. We wear those T Shirts sometimes as it is nostalgic to wear. Also, there are occasions like Alumni meet etc when it is apt to wear. Isn't it. Nothing to flaunt about. Ofcourse, some may be flaunting it like Ranveer Singh in "Rocky & Rani"...."तार लो, तार लो, जितना मर्जी तार लो, बड़ी मेहनत से बनाई हैं यह बॉडी, 100% नेचुरल "
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIEamazing ! I think its wonderful to be proub of one s alma mater and wear t shirt , hoodie or whatever. I have met so many fellow alums from isb on random flights just because they identified me from the isb logo on my tee
Aashish AgrawalI love to wear Tees and Hoodies occasionally of all my Almamaters. And all of them aren't IIT/IIMs. I have bonded with Alumni of Scottish Church College or BE College. Unlike you, my association with IIT was at PG Level. I cherish whoever I am and wherever I am from.
Array array Sir! This is the problem people want to steer clear of, and they are not able to express it in words. The world - i.e. real life - does everything WAYYY better than any IIT or IIM or ISB does. It seems people who have attended these places have "forgotten" this basic truth? As I have learned from my father (also an IIT KGPian who never pushed my brother and I to attend IIT), that life/nature teaches you everything 10x better. E.g. We learn humility in IIT -> We couldn't learn it from nature? We learn intelligence comes in many shape/sizes/forms -> Our mothers/women navigating life under serious constraints couldn't teach it to us? No Sir. You only learnt Chemical or Computer Engg in IIT. The pedagogy was great, sure! Still doesn't hold a candle to life itself (experiential/ exposure based). This is why most people don't care about degrees nowadays. Whether it is IIT or MIT or Stanford. Pedagogy is OK. But ultimately, andragogy rules (very long term, the only thing that matters is learning how to learn). Unfortunately, very few seem to be able to deal with this. P.S. it's my hunch that apart from knowledge in your field of work, you would be exactly the same person you are today - IIT or not. :)
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21 Replies on Saswata Shankar De’s comment
Saswata Shankar De: That is the not the point of the post, we can learn anything anywhere indeed, if we have the zeal. The point is that highlighting that you are not from IIT or IIM amounts to ridiculing or mocking those institutions. It is as if saying that IIT and IIM students are somewhat dumb or inferior and the said person is too smart to even bother about going to these places. If you have to ridicule or mock others to feel good about yourself, it shows lack of confidence or too much confidence.
I would think that it's an assumption Sir. You see here is the really strange thing. If IIT = NOT IIT in real life terms, then why write either at all? There are only 2 things for me here -> world class pedagogy, and world class network. World class pedagogy is becoming immaterial very fast (and in fact, brand IIT also has been massively diluted for various reasons). Now, how many would agree that the greatest contribution that IIT/IIM made in their lives is a cushy job and better marriage prospects? Unfortunately, that would mean letting go of the "moral" high ground of being shaped by an other worldly experience that apparently people can't have (say) by backpacking the world at 18 or climbing Everest at 22. Or just surviving life in a challenging environment like India. Elitism works by that very principle right? I have / had something that you can't have? My simple question is, is it true? And the west has called BS on this a long long time back. If you write the one, then write the other as well. Either way, many people, including Elon, Zuck, Gates (and I), don't really care, as long as you have demonstrated ability to learn. One of the ways, is definitely by going to IIT (and the other is by not ;)).
Saswata Shankar Devery nuanced i must say. And while i do not fully agree to your perspective, i see where you are coming from. Everyone is free to write what one wants to write in his or her profile. But it would be very strange if all of us start writing where we have not studied or where we have not worked in a professional platform like linkein which works like a cv
AashishSir honest question - why did you feel the "need" to write about humility and intelligence and openness as regards to your IIT/ISB experience? Do you disagree that a curious 5/10 year old may (would) have all of these traits and not know the words for it? :) This is what I'm pushing back against sir. It's very hard to cope with the fact that an IIT/ISB experience ONLY makes you a better corporate employee (engineer/manager) for the TIME BEING, and gives you a great network for LIFE. That's it. What does it mean sir, when you say I am not better than you, but I'm shaped differently? Isn't that by definition life (and privilege)? If that's not so, would love to hear what experiential learning you had in the IIT campus that is not inbuilt into the life of a curious 5-10 year old already - curiosity, humility, intelligence, exploration, et all. "If I have seen further, it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants" - Newton (without having to go to an IIT/IIM). As I said at the very start, many people write it simply because they feel the thing but don't have the words for it. Viz "Life has given me experiences an IIT/IIM education never could" and the implicit challenge to value it better than that degree.
Saswata Shankar Deall what you have said is right, i agree. But the point of this post is not to say that a)only iit , iim shape you or b) other colleges or life do not.
"Not from IIT. Not from IIM. Not from ISB. I often see this line written proudly in bios and Linkedin handles, as if not being from these institutes is a badge of honour." ^ Fact. It is. Not being from these institutes and still being where you are (comparable or kicking ass), proves that your learning ability is better than the Average Joe who went to IIT (and thus had the privilege of pedagogy and the privilege of affording tuition - also pedagogy - to get to that pedagogy). Busts the myth that there's anything at work here apart from pedagogy. "As if mocking them somehow makes you superior." Assumption. From people trying hard to cope? Did they write a post mocking IIT or did you write a post mocking their inferior shaping by life experiences? As I said, what did you mean by humility/intelligence and being shaped differently without being better? :P Ab toh samajh jao sir. :)
You and I both know it is not about that, Sir. :) This is obviously something we both feel passionately about, and I'm glad I was able to share my opinions on your timeline (with grace). Thank you! ❤️
Saswata Shankar DeBut an ISB tag is earned by cracking one of the toughest exams (GMAT)... I don't think it should be termed as privilege. Its not like an average joe can get into these institutes with Quotas. Don't you think that someone at a top B-school like ISB reflects their superior preparation, dedication, and effort to reach there. Such achievements are a testament to hard work, not privilege. While non-ISB graduates may or may not excel in the long run, the main point is that institutes like ISB and exams like the GMAT are designed to assess a candidate's work ethic and dedication. If someone likeAashish Agrawalhas succeeded, it highlights his exceptional determination. (Taking him as an example to state a point). He sacrificed his time and effort and resulted in cracking one of the most prestigious B school -Indian School of Business. It should not be called as privileged, Its hard work. So, kudos to him!
Udit sir, if a man and a woman succeed "equally", that is, based on all measurable criteria of success they remain equal/comparable, then who is better (smarter, more talented, more disciplined, however you want put it)? This IS the problem. If I'm as good as you are, and your pedagogy is better than mine, then my andragogy is better than yours. Simple fact. And andragogy WILL win, because you can be self taught at age 80 also, but can't attend IIT, unfortunately. It used to be easy before - I went to IIT, so I'm a better engineer. This was true (better pedagogy in an age of true information asymmetry). Now, that assumption has been destroyed (proven false in some cases where pedagogy hurts andragogy). So you need to tout nostalgia and other stuff. Have you heard of Nassim Taleb or read his books? I have been privileged to see truly truly smart (i.e. high IQ people, who have consistently ranked in top 0.1% in standardized tests) in my home, and let me tell you this, they did not learn humility because they went to any institution. It has been drilled into me since I was 5 (or younger). What is truly valuable, life will teach you. The only question is can YOU learn without the crutch of the institution supporting you?
I'm not arguing against the IITian. I'm simply saying that every IITian should respect the fact that every non-IITian who got to the same place where they are at, are likely better than them (self taught). The fact that this is even an argument boggles my mind. And then they have every right to say "NOT man" ;).
Vishal Anandif you can truly learn anything from anywhere and have the zeal for it, you would be dumb to go to IIT (or any institution). Fact. You would also be smarter than most, if not all, IITians. Also fact. You see, you cannot even debate this today, given the intense research and proof points against institutionalized learning and the way it destroys our minds. You can, of course, walk into an IIT and choose to stay there. You can equally as well walk out of it and it would make no meaningful difference to your life. Hard to cope with it may be. But there it is.
Saswata Shankar De Can you cite any reference to support your outlandish comment that “institutionalized education destroys minds” ? If you were to jog your memory just a little, you will realize all the great technological breakthroughs of last century were product of institutionalized learning and research. Project Manhattan, which developed the nuclear bomb, was served by scientists like Oppenheimer (who attended Cambridge) and Lawrence (who was from Berkeley) among others. The microprocessor was, in part, developed by Ray Holt, who attended the California State University. The world wide web was invented by Tim Berners Lee, a professor at MIT and also at Oxford. Prof Geoff Hinton, one of the godfathers of AI, whose research of several decades contributed to AI phenomena, is a professor at University of Toronto. All the above statements are facts and you can verify them from independent sources and references But can you cite any reference saying that institutionalized education destroys minds. Otherwise, I will say that your statement is only an anecdote, based on your personal experience, and not a “fact”.
I have made 2 points though: for folks who are auto didacts, like the ones you have mentioned above, institutionalized learning is "optional". For the regular person, it may do more harm than good as well. And definitely does the harm of cultivating ego while believing it to be humility. I would share the research, but let me share a book instead, which has all the research - The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan. Here's a discussion between Taleb and Caplan by the way - pretty insightful ->https://medium.com/conversations-with-tyler/bryan-caplan-nassim-taleb-tyler-cowen-higher-education-college-fc4b845fe30e And here (finally), is Oppenheimer in his own words. TLDR; he hated his time at Cambridge. Its also in the movie, btw. Didn't you watch it?
Beautifully put. Institutions can shape us, but they don’t define us. What truly defines us is how much we continue to learn after we leave those gates.
I think the point some of those people want to highlight is that they made it big in life (according to their point of reference) despite not having been able to make it into IIM/ISB/IIT. Rest are kidding themselves. :)
Simran Koul- I think we should be proud of people who did not let their failures in some exam confine their ambitions and bounced back. If they are announcing it in their bio, it is good only for them and others. Achievers deserve the right to show whatever they want to show including making big without a degree from IIT/IIM. We should celebrate them. The more we admire and encourage others' bounce back abilities, the more we develop an inspiring world for everyone.
Gopal KrishnaAbsolutely, as someone who comes from a very normal background - I would always respect someone making it big via unconventional paths, or not so big names of the educational brands/industries. However, this comment was with respect to the people I've come across on LinkedIn/ in real life. There's this perspective thrown across - that once someone who graduates from top-tier colleges, they get everything on a platter, which I don't agree with. They have worked hard for that platter, and they deserve the ease of access in terms of opportunities. :)
Gopal KrishnaFailures are not limited to people who could not clear IIT or IIM. I can speak from my experience, i have cleared JEE itself after two failed attempts, also not with a great all india rank. Should i start writing “ Not AIR 100 in IIT” . Maybe they are right in doing this, i am sharing my perspective
Aashish Agrawal- If sharing your failure and bounce back helps you feel strong, do that. As long as one gets strength without harming others, everything is fine.
My sarcasm was primarily because I was surprised someone actually from IIT/ISB let themselves be affected by such posts. Then again, I also frequently see posts on my feed about start up founders and other hiring managers who make posts about how they explicitly do not hire from tier 1 colleges and seek out people from "lower" tier colleges because, in their opinion, their company culture meshes better with non-tier-1 folks. It's a strange world we live in.
Hari Sundararajani agree, strange world. As far as my being affected. Its not actually not that disturbing to me, but since we are sharing out opinions here on this platform, i find it rather stranger that someone focuses more on other colleges long after the graduation is over. But i get your point. Thanks
Hari Sundararajanreally? It seemed strange to you? It really isn't. IITs and IIMs graduates have to touch grass. They aren't better. They don't know better they can't do better in most cases. But if you hire them they surely come with better egos and not better results. Thus the startups prefer people who have less egos because in terms of productivity or innovation or getting the work done - IITs or IIMs= any other low tier colleges. And every company knows this that's why outside India the value of IIT IIM graduates are like any other low tier colleges.
Tirtha MukherjeeYes, the fact that sometimes, the environment you are exposed to does shape you, that in a lot of ways they might actually be better, and that your comment on their egos is more a reflection of your own envy. I hope you are, some day, capable of seeing just how childish your comments are you actually grow up.
Hari SundararajanThe days are numbered for people like you and with your mentality. That's the reason I ain't gonna engage with you anymore. You'll have the time of your life soon.. Donald Trump will make sure of that
Many people proudly write “Not from IIT/IIM/ISB” not to mock anyone, but to remind others that talent, ideas, and determination exist everywhere — even outside big institutes. Education shapes you, yes — but so do failures, struggles, and real-life experiences. And those lessons don’t come with an institute tag. In the end, it’s not where you studied, it’s what you’ve learned and how you use it that defines you.
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1 Comment on Smruti Ranjan Nayak’s comment
It’s because the society has made these institutions as a badge of honor. And thousands of youngsters every year are forced to be a part of them and fit into society’s definition of success even if it isn’t their own.
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1 Comment on Niharikaa Kaur Sodhi’s comment
Frankly sometimes they are not mocking these places - they’re asserting self-worth in a system that’s structurally tilted toward pedigree. You are failing to understand- Our professional culture still equates competence with logos - the “IIT/IIM/ISB” tag becomes shorthand for credibility. That’s why others emphasise not having it: to prove that impact doesn’t need a stamp. Their defiance is a rebellion against lazy credentialism. You don’t mock IIT/IIM/ISB by saying you’re not from them. You mock the system that made them the only valid measure of excellence. Thats about it.
I read a very interesting concept in one of the Jain philosophical books titled "Aparigraha" (non-attachment/possessiveness): If a person says, "I used to be wealthy, have a lot of property, had a great family, but now I have given up all that for spirituality", then that person is at a worse place than someone who doesn't practice non-attachment, because they are still attached to what they still think they once possessed!
Actually a lot of CVs and profiles are algorithmically filtered nowadays by employers, investors, etc. "Not from IIT or IIM" is just a clever way of including these keywords without lying.
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1 Comment on Prithwiraj Mukherjee’s comment
If you are not from the reputed places, many a time you will not be heard at all in spite of one's comparable abilities. That's frustrating. This stereotyping will push these non elites down. That's how the world operates. To brand them as a non elite is a way to get noticed.
Well, I've written the same in my bio. Not because i'm mocking someone, but often i receive DMs from lot of people who start the introduction like "Hey, i'm from IITX batch 20XX. I'm working at XXX and done XXX. Do you have any relevent opening for me at your firm". Any my only response is, "Why write IIT before actully explaning our qualities."Your college defines your hardwork in past, specially during school days but what's more crucial is how you've shaped yourself after college. What are your accomplishments and above all, what skills do you possess. And Hats off to recrutires who post a job saying "Tier 1 preferred" as if they're hiring with the same mindset. Skills gayi bhard me, degree se kaam karvyange\.
Divyansh Vatsamore power to you and thanks for commenting without being negative about. I dont have anything against any other college or their alums but only respect. But look at it this way, someone who has toiled very hard to get into iit ( or bit or any other college for that matter) , i do not see anything wrong if they start introducing their credentials with where they have studied
Aashish AgrawalFair, there isn't anything wrong. But for someone who lacks skills and learning tries to covers up by saying i'm graduate from xyz place I guess isn't quite worth an appreciation.
Being from IIT you are definitely good, at least in theory. But that doesn't mean others are not as good. I have seen equally good and some even better. They were by individual merit not based on the system.
Wow..Thanks for writing this.I believe that not being able to crack IIT/IIM or anything similar stays with you for a longer time , because the preparations take a toll on you.I guess, despite not belonging from any of those institutions if you are happy in life then great and please share positive vibes that not getting into IIT is not end of the world but continuously sharing that students from IIT/IIM is not as good as they claim to be, just feels like 'grapes are sour' kind of a move
Ankita Ghoshyes. They're so good that a tier 3 college in China has better international rankings than creme IITs or IIMs. Lol 😂. A nation of dummies endorsing and manufacturing more dummies.
What has people from IITs or IIMs contributed to our society except from elitism? Nothing. Even the institutes are nothing in terms of global positions. It's a clear signal that IITs and IIMs only manufacture elite robots whose entire contribution to society is a better job and marriage prospects in India. Outside this country the value of IIT or IIMs is the same as the value of any other tier 1 university. But sure, boomers like you will continue with the elitism until you're extinct. And extinct you will be - sooner than y'all realise.
Aashish Agrawaland how's that faring for the people? What technology did that IITian make? Do you not know the business model of such companies? Are they making lives easier? Nope. They're just good at exploitation of labour by taking advantage of the cheap labour and non-existent labour laws of the country. Thanks for proving my point exactly. 😌
Tirtha Mukherjeei hope we are talking about the same person @mr narayan murthy. I dont think he needs any certificate of what he did from either you or me. Rest i think you are in a different reality where even bharat ratna and padma vibhushan receiver have not contributed anything to this nation. Nothing more to add.
Aashish Agrawalah yes! The credibility of Bharat Ratna and Padma bibhusan in a nation where another receiver of the similar honours - Sonam wangchuk (whose contribution to the country is much more than a wage exploiter) is in jail for protesting. 😂 The entire world is aware of the truth about India. These propaganda posts hold zero value except for acting as an echo chamber of our 'greatness'.
It’s an identity crisis in the digital age, a confusion between presence and purpose, and a loss of our inner value compass. Many of us try to find something that makes our identity shine, a marker of uniqueness. But I agree with you,Aashish, saying “Not from IIT” feels more defensive than defining. If I were a recruiter or a reader, it would actually leave a negative impression. That said, I do feel that occasionally reminding oneself or sharing “Not from IIT” in the right context, can be a positive source of motivation. For example, when speaking to students who couldn’t make it into such institutions and feel disheartened, it can be empowering to show that success isn’t limited to a particular label or college. But using it as a continuous digital identity or brand tagline feels like overkill. True originality and strength of character come from those who take pride in their own journeys. As you rightly said, it’s about “what defines you.”
Have never come across this written personally. However , i understand where it stems from - not everyone makes it to these institutes for various reasons , be it lack of financial backing , percentile , anxiety in appearing for competitive exams , awareness, lack of self-confidence in sitting for competitive etc. These institutes hold their own merit , however it also doesn't mean that those who didnt make it here are good-for-nothing or at best eligible for lower executive class jobs only.
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1 Comment on Shahana Roy Chowdhury’s comment
Honestly, I think it comes from a place of insecurity. It’s more about masking inferiority by creating an illusion of being on par than expressing pride. Just my opinion, not undermining anyone!
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1 Comment on Anusha Sajjan Gandla’s comment
As someone from IIT: Can confirm, we’re just people who are really good at overthinking problems and occasionally solving them 🤓 The real education was learning that intelligence comes in so many forms. My batchmate, who could derive complex equations, couldn’t parallel park to save his life, while my neighbour, who never went to college, built a thriving business from scratch. Smart is everywhere. Humility is the real superpower. Aashish Agrawal
I think the point is nuanced, that what you are highlighting is not a binaryAashish Agrawal. Both of the nuances can be true- that you do not need to belong to an IIT or IIM to be excellent in what you do, and yes, absolutely IITs and IIMs are institutions of excellence (at least some of them), and some very bright people get there and their lives are shaped by what they learn from there.
Arijit Sanyalthanks for highlighting this very subtle point which inam trying to make. There is nothing world changing about any college, but then why to otherize it
Arijit Sanyalyou have a very important perspective. The flip side of 'not from xyz' also arises from the flashing (bragging) some others might do or job postings inviting IIT IIM XYZ exclusively. I'm of the opinion that certainly prestigious institutions could provide different perspectives. BUT it's pretty backward for anyone to think that others do not produce equivalent skills. Especially where job listings love to show off "we are an equal opportunity employer". Super nuanced.
Raymond Rozariowhich colleges and past experience companies wants in their potential hires is totally their choice. Even within IITs they have a preference for certain departments. T
I really don't understand that if I have worked my soul off to get to a place that has shaped me immensely, that has given me access to super bright people, who have in turn made me much brighter and sharper, led me to do great things in life that I am grateful for, why I can't use the tag and imbibe it strongly in my personality!
I think its all because how most people have always looked down on tier 3 colleges and assumed that they would do nothing big in their lives, more then anything it makes them feel like they can prove to everyone that without any of these you can do all that you had dreamt of! But I do definitely believe that getting into an IIT or IIM can open so many doors without any knocking involved while others will have to knock each door hard enough for it to open.
Manushree RaoThats such a balanced perspective. I have huge respect for people from any college ( for that matter people who might not have had the fortune of going to a college also)
Amazingly enough, all the comments in favour of the post are from IIT/IIM alums, and those against are from the rest. :) There’s no such thing as accepting a view point and moving on.
Love this perspective sir! Defining yourself by what you’re against often limits the narrative. Your take really highlights that these institutes aren’t about superiority they’re about exposure, learning, and humility. Being surrounded by diverse brilliance teaches you that growth comes from collaboration, not comparison. 👏 Well said!
The real takeaway isn’t the brand name, it’s the humility you develop when you realize brilliance has many forms.Aashish Education gives you a platform. Growth comes from how you use it.
I agree. Those who don’t make it to an IIT, think that IITians boast or show off. Little do they know that we ate at Chedis and Tikka (and not the fancy cafeteria of some of the private colleges), and the brightest minds would be dressed in 3 year old T-shirts and shorts at KGP. We studied in non ac classrooms with wooden benches and no foam. And of course, anyone around can smarter, sharper or brighter. The humbleness we learn there cannot be learnt otherwise.
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1 Comment on Dr. Jaydeep Khalpada’s comment
I think there's another perspective. Sometimes, I've seen people adding it in their bio in order to show/encourage others that "you can achieve big things in life through skills, if, for any reason, you didn't get a teir 1 college."
Preeti .I get it and its okay whichever way one wants to project one s profile. However, if i am a recruiter i might not be impressed from what you are not from, but more from where you are from
And that how beautiful people are, in their own ways. The diversity at IIT helped me develop empathy and be open to different cultures, traditions, to keep an open mind before judging. I owe a lot to IIT than I can ever repay.
Don't know what made my funny bone tickle , But since when actually making a mark and standing up tall to excellence being touted as making mockery ???? In the time when markets are overflowing with mediocre and so called "growth-hackers" , if people think putting up your life and hard work's achievement as "SHOW-OFF" , I genuinely feel we are up for total annihilation of quality & excellence because the IQ-EQ-MQ-FQ of a country dies the moment it starts restructuring the starting and finishing lines just so that everyone wins...... YOU WORKED FOR IT YOU DESERVE IT SHOW OFF OR BRAG YOU HAVE EARNED IT SIR....
People don’t necessarily have anything against anyone — it’s just that many of us put “made it without going there, and you will too” on our profiles to make a point. It’s not about mocking IITians. It’s about how, in India, we’ve built this perception that someone from IIT is automatically more capable or reliable than someone who didn’t make it in. Even today, some companies still prefer hiring IIT graduates. On the other hand, many IITians proudly market their ventures with tags like “Built by IITians” — which only reinforces the hierarchy we’ve created ourselves. It’s a social structure that still lingers, even if unintentionally. I just hope one day we move past these labels and focus more on building than on showing off whether someone is from IIT or not. Life is much bigger than that.
Harmanjot Singh DhaliwalAppreciate your points however do not fully agree to it. 1. Every country and everything in the world has some criteria for selection. One might not agree with that criteria but it can not be wished away. 2. Brands are not new to the world. IIT is a brand because it has given results over sonmany decades. Its not just for the sake of it. 3. Everyone is free to put whatever in their bios and profiles- its just that its strange we are more keen on showing where we did not go or work than being proud of showing where we went and worked
I don’t think it’s meant to mock IIT or IIM graduates at all. It’s more about expressing that success isn’t confined to those who studied at these prestigious institutions. Many who couldn’t make it to IITs or IIMs want to convey that with determination, hard work, and self-belief, they too can achieve great things. It’s a positive reminder that talent and success can emerge from anywhere.
Some people try to offset their insecurities through downplaying some established institutions or personalities thinking it looks "cool" or something. In reality they are just validating these institutions or personalities as benchmarks everytime they try to say other wise and it's funny because it's all in their mind only , nothing else mattered or got affected due to this. Humility is the best reply for this.. Just an acceptance saying okay , drives them crazy.
"Not because that defines me," It literally defines your Linkedin Profile. You didn't even say ISB, you had to show off the Hyd part too because ISB has multiple campus now. If it doesn't define you then remove it from your bio. "As if mocking them somehow makes you superior." Now I think of it, that's satire. When all IIT, IIMs folks identity is defined by their college writing this is cracking a joke about it.
Raj Kumarmy linkedin profile has list of all colleges and companies that inhave actually been to and worked in. Not the list of colleges and companies that i wanted to but did not get into
Absolutely it’s not about where you studied, but what you absorbed from the environment every journey IIT/ISB or not has lessons that shape us differently
The problem could be that people throw these institution names around like weightage in unnecessary situations as well. For eg. I had to show house to another renting couple who would takeover from my 3 yr tenure. The guy "casually" dropped that he is some high percentage type guy from one of such institutes. Totally unnecessary. I did not even register the names and wanted them to leave (perhaps wrongly perceiving them as snobs) but like any tool, wrong place wrong time only gives pain and delays. To those who use these tags as Heraldry.. I would say, grow up. We all know you must have achieved much by this time in life. Don't do the peocock dance to show it off.
Shobhit KaulMight be true as you have experienced it yourself. There is no need of any dance to show off . However, at a professional platform such as Linkein if someone write his actual college name, its not show off - its like your cv,
Aashish Agrawalagreed. This is the correct and apt platform. And any of those who mock any earned education do not understand the value of learning itself. Let alone the years of churning it took to make it an Understanding.
Aashish AgrawalI love how you’ve said this, it’s not about having a tag or rejecting it, it’s about what the journey teaches you and how it shapes your thinking.
AI is exposing people who only knew "frameworks and jargons." It's now democratizing access that was previously gatekept. When people write "Not from IIT/IIM," it's not always mockery. Often it's saying "I built this without that launchpad" - which required a different kind of grit. These institutions offered some value, but they also created artificial scarcity. Not everyone brilliant could access them due to economics, geography, or timing. Them offering online courses now is desperation - talent was always everywhere. The credentials weren't. AI levels that playing field. That's sad for people from these institutions - it was overdue from a long time.
Aashish, your perspective is refreshing and thought-provoking. Emphasizing the value of continuous learning and the diverse paths to success truly resonates with many. It's a reminder that our experiences, rather than our formal titles, are what shape us. Thank you for sharing such an insightful reflection.
And then there are those who add institute names even for short certificate or training programs. I believe there will always be people who reject the idea that educational pedigree defines potential, and those who conform to it. The truth is, most in these two categories are still seeking validation in different forms. (including myself...I mention ISB in my profile :))
While being a part of a prestigious institution is a testament of hardwork, intelligence goes way beyond that. Minds are shaped through openness to learn, making the best of where you are, and humility.
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1 Comment on Prithviraj Srinivasan’s comment
Absolutely spot on, the world is full of people who can teach you something. It doesn’t matter which college you’re from; if you’re willing to learn and grow, there’s always something to gain from everyone you meet.
IITs, IIMs, and other renowned private institutions are institutions of eminence in the true sense. No institution can match their standards in India. Mocking these institutions are mocking at yourself.
Shouvik DebnathThat is true. However i would like to add that every college is the pride of its alma mater. But to denounce IITs is not cool and this is what my post is about
Loved ur last line.. “It makes you aware that the world is full of people who can teach you something”. Being surrounded by amazing peers.. sure does humble one down. and pushes the ceiling to learn & grow lot higher.
Not from IIT/ISB is a deconstructivist approach to self branding...a paradigm shift aimed at moving away from snob value that is associated with IIT/ISB brands. As an analogy, feminist theory developed as a deconstructivist approach towards the then prevalent masculine frame of reference. I understand your thoughts, I am just outlining the thought of the other side.
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3 Replies on Juhi Gahlot Sarkar’s comment
Aashish Agrawaltrue. However much of branding/positioning is 'referential'. To say branding is referential means that the meaning of a brand is constructed through difference, it derives identity with respect to an “other” (category leader, cultural norm, or opposing ideology). This aligns with structuralist and semiotic thinking: meaning is relational. For example, Brands like Patagonia or Allbirds position themselves as anti-fast fashion. Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods: “tastes just like beef, but better for the planet", the reference to meat-eating anchors their identity; they’re meaningful because they challenge the norm. Pepsi defined itself through Coke (traditional, nostalgic), positioning itself as youthful, rebellious, anti-tradition. Apple’s identity (think different) rests on being not-Microsoft: creative, emotional, design-oriented. We all are familiar with 'minimalist' as a brand, positioned against everything that qualifies as 'excess'. That's how 'non IIT/ISB' positioning is.
People should compete and mostly from themselves. People should learn and mostly from others. May or may not be, they have achieved something in their life instead of being from an IIT/IIM which was tough to achieve and may be that's why they write this in their profile as an achievement. Even though, celebration is meant to be small not defining the whole profile all the time. Achieve a milestone and move to next.
Aashish AgrawalAbsolutely true. I don’t think people are against IITs or IIMs per se, but rather against the perception that having an IIT/IIM tag makes someone superior or the ultimate. I’ve been closely associated with many IIT folks—some of them are genuinely brilliant, but most are pretty ordinary. The whole point is that it’s not about IIT or IIM or any other tag; it’s about continuous improvement that makes a person better. And yes, most of them (over 90%) are not humble at all.
This is all true..a better environment will always create a better self..it also allows us to know there are many people who are sharper and smarter than us..and we need to learn a lot to upgrade ourselves...
Well, if someone doesn’t take honour of coming from IITK, they have got something wrong… Pity on peeps who have those anti tags pinned up on their chest.. reminds me of - “angoor khatte hain” story !!
The people mentioning that it may be because they want to show others that they've made it and you don't necessarily have to be an alumni of these top institutions to achieve what they have, is outright absurd. Might as well add "Not from Stanford/MIT/Cambridge" while you're at it 😂
I couldn't agree more with the humbling part. It just true for me every single day. Everything you do, The institution finds a way to remind you that you are not alone in this world.
I mean it does not come from a place of feeling proud of not belonging to these institutions but rather from the dismay of what it means to be from any college deemed unworthy by companies. It's a subtle waking of consciousness that even though we are not from these institutions we are not going to hide from it, let us confront it head on. People who care about skills will see beyond the tags and give us a chance to showcase our talents whereas it acts like a filter for those who only consider tags as a marker of competence.
Could be something around playing with LinkedIn search algorithm! While not having a degree from IIT or IIM, writing these in the bios would still show them up on search keywords related to IITs or IIMs
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1 Comment on Mohammed Faizan Lateef’s comment
Its ironic these people are still banking on keyword search and seo optimisation thatLinkedInuses. I find people who addUniversity of OxfordorHarvard Business Schoolto their profiles after taking a two hour course. Alumni status is a thing,whether you like it or not
Identity built on opposition is still a reaction, not a foundation. The focus should be on growth, not comparison. Unnecessary comparison sometimes kills genuine growth of people from all walks of life.
I’ve seen this too whether it’s “from IIT/IIM/I ISB” or “Ex-FAANG,” people wear both pride and defiance as badges. Truth is, entry gates differ, but curiosity and persistence are the real alumni network. I have the highest regards and met the best mentors/ humans from none of these.
Different approaches work differently for all of us, to say this is not useful or required may be true from ones own perspective but may work differently for others
Yash Pratap
• You
People who labelled themselves as "Not from IIT/IIM" are mostly men below 35.
Checkout the full information about Indian coaching industry here.
Part 1
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yashp2411_coaching-activity-7379938200414384128-zp6u
Part 2
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yashp2411_coaching-edtech-activity-7380253904447533056-26Wj
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE
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Yash Pratap
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Yash Pratap
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Tier 3 Engineering - They think using tools like Salesforce is engineering.
Tier 2 Engineering - They think Implementation is engineering as this is what mostly happens in the job
IIT Engineering - They know the "Why this solution is better than other using framework A B or C" but they have no idea why the domain exists in the first place.
MIT Engineering - They know Why this domain exists in the first place, what they don't know and whom to ask what questions.
Good courses are designed according to US and western context, when India develop courses according to Indian context then there will be many great Engineers in India.
It's all Politics whether anyone like it or not.
There are no internal capabilities issues when it comes to learning, I think China successfully transitioned beyond west.
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE
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Yash Pratap
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When we see from male perspective then Doctor > Nurse always but from female perspective the world looks bit different
Nurse in UK > Doctor in India as in India women need to face Patriarchy norms despite success which Nurse in UK don't and she can transition to management or better jobs and live far more fulfilling life which seems absurd from common logic but it's true.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yashp2411_career-genz-migrate-activity-7373771450115297280-bPo_
Virginia Woolf, first modern feminist, wrote on this issue 100 years ago in her novel Orlando where she changed the gender of character over a period of centuries and the entire world looks different. However Indian feminist reduce feminism to a joke because their feminism is fueled by caste privilege and that's why it doesn't include Virginia Woolf Simone and neither Savitri and Jyotiba Phule or Dr Ambedkar.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yashp2411_substack-cringe-covertlyabrpatriarchal-activity-7379390799962132480-gand
Sociology and Politics plays much bigger role in shaping our ambitions than we think
Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE
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Yash Pratap
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Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE
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Yash Pratap
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Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE
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Aashish Agrawal
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Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE
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Tanmoy Dasgupta
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Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE
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We wear those T Shirts sometimes as it is nostalgic to wear. Also, there are occasions like Alumni meet etc when it is apt to wear. Isn't it. Nothing to flaunt about. Ofcourse, some may be flaunting it like Ranveer Singh in "Rocky & Rani"...."तार लो, तार लो, जितना मर्जी तार लो, बड़ी मेहनत से बनाई हैं यह बॉडी, 100% नेचुरल "
Aashish Agrawal
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Anirwan Sengupta, PMP®, FIE
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Saswata Shankar De
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The world - i.e. real life - does everything WAYYY better than any IIT or IIM or ISB does.
It seems people who have attended these places have "forgotten" this basic truth?
As I have learned from my father (also an IIT KGPian who never pushed my brother and I to attend IIT), that life/nature teaches you everything 10x better.
E.g.
We learn humility in IIT -> We couldn't learn it from nature?
We learn intelligence comes in many shape/sizes/forms -> Our mothers/women navigating life under serious constraints couldn't teach it to us?
No Sir. You only learnt Chemical or Computer Engg in IIT. The pedagogy was great, sure! Still doesn't hold a candle to life itself (experiential/ exposure based).
This is why most people don't care about degrees nowadays. Whether it is IIT or MIT or Stanford.
Pedagogy is OK. But ultimately, andragogy rules (very long term, the only thing that matters is learning how to learn).
Unfortunately, very few seem to be able to deal with this.
P.S. it's my hunch that apart from knowledge in your field of work, you would be exactly the same person you are today - IIT or not. :)
Saswata Shankar De
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Aashish Agrawal
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Siddharth Mishra
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Vishal Anand
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Aashish Agrawal
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Saswata Shankar De
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You see here is the really strange thing. If IIT = NOT IIT in real life terms, then why write either at all?
There are only 2 things for me here -> world class pedagogy, and world class network.
World class pedagogy is becoming immaterial very fast (and in fact, brand IIT also has been massively diluted for various reasons).
Now, how many would agree that the greatest contribution that IIT/IIM made in their lives is a cushy job and better marriage prospects?
Unfortunately, that would mean letting go of the "moral" high ground of being shaped by an other worldly experience that apparently people can't have (say) by backpacking the world at 18 or climbing Everest at 22. Or just surviving life in a challenging environment like India.
Elitism works by that very principle right? I have / had something that you can't have?
My simple question is, is it true?
And the west has called BS on this a long long time back.
If you write the one, then write the other as well. Either way, many people, including Elon, Zuck, Gates (and I), don't really care, as long as you have demonstrated ability to learn. One of the ways, is definitely by going to IIT (and the other is by not ;)).
Aashish Agrawal
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Aashish Agrawal
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Everyone is free to write what one wants to write in his or her profile. But it would be very strange if all of us start writing where we have not studied or where we have not worked in a professional platform like linkein which works like a cv
Saswata Shankar De
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This is what I'm pushing back against sir. It's very hard to cope with the fact that an IIT/ISB experience ONLY makes you a better corporate employee (engineer/manager) for the TIME BEING, and gives you a great network for LIFE. That's it.
What does it mean sir, when you say I am not better than you, but I'm shaped differently? Isn't that by definition life (and privilege)?
If that's not so, would love to hear what experiential learning you had in the IIT campus that is not inbuilt into the life of a curious 5-10 year old already - curiosity, humility, intelligence, exploration, et all.
"If I have seen further, it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants" - Newton (without having to go to an IIT/IIM).
As I said at the very start, many people write it simply because they feel the thing but don't have the words for it. Viz "Life has given me experiences an IIT/IIM education never could" and the implicit challenge to value it better than that degree.
Aashish Agrawal
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Saswata Shankar De
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I often see this line written proudly in bios and Linkedin handles, as if not being from these institutes is a badge of honour."
^ Fact. It is. Not being from these institutes and still being where you are (comparable or kicking ass), proves that your learning ability is better than the Average Joe who went to IIT (and thus had the privilege of pedagogy and the privilege of affording tuition - also pedagogy - to get to that pedagogy). Busts the myth that there's anything at work here apart from pedagogy.
"As if mocking them somehow makes you superior."
Assumption. From people trying hard to cope? Did they write a post mocking IIT or did you write a post mocking their inferior shaping by life experiences?
As I said, what did you mean by humility/intelligence and being shaped differently without being better? :P
Ab toh samajh jao sir. :)
Aashish Agrawal
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Saswata Shankar De
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Siddharth Mishra
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Udit Jain
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Don't you think that someone at a top B-school like ISB reflects their superior preparation, dedication, and effort to reach there. Such achievements are a testament to hard work, not privilege.
While non-ISB graduates may or may not excel in the long run, the main point is that institutes like ISB and exams like the GMAT are designed to assess a candidate's work ethic and dedication. If someone like Aashish Agrawal has succeeded, it highlights his exceptional determination. (Taking him as an example to state a point). He sacrificed his time and effort and resulted in cracking one of the most prestigious B school - Indian School of Business. It should not be called as privileged, Its hard work. So, kudos to him!
Saswata Shankar De
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This IS the problem.
If I'm as good as you are, and your pedagogy is better than mine, then my andragogy is better than yours. Simple fact. And andragogy WILL win, because you can be self taught at age 80 also, but can't attend IIT, unfortunately.
It used to be easy before - I went to IIT, so I'm a better engineer. This was true (better pedagogy in an age of true information asymmetry).
Now, that assumption has been destroyed (proven false in some cases where pedagogy hurts andragogy). So you need to tout nostalgia and other stuff. Have you heard of Nassim Taleb or read his books?
I have been privileged to see truly truly smart (i.e. high IQ people, who have consistently ranked in top 0.1% in standardized tests) in my home, and let me tell you this, they did not learn humility because they went to any institution. It has been drilled into me since I was 5 (or younger). What is truly valuable, life will teach you. The only question is can YOU learn without the crutch of the institution supporting you?
Saswata Shankar De
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Saswata Shankar De
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You would also be smarter than most, if not all, IITians. Also fact.
You see, you cannot even debate this today, given the intense research and proof points against institutionalized learning and the way it destroys our minds.
You can, of course, walk into an IIT and choose to stay there. You can equally as well walk out of it and it would make no meaningful difference to your life.
Hard to cope with it may be. But there it is.
Vishal Anand
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Can you cite any reference to support your outlandish comment that “institutionalized education destroys minds” ?
If you were to jog your memory just a little, you will realize all the great technological breakthroughs of last century were product of institutionalized learning and research. Project Manhattan, which developed the nuclear bomb, was served by scientists like Oppenheimer (who attended Cambridge) and Lawrence (who was from Berkeley) among others. The microprocessor was, in part, developed by Ray Holt, who attended the California State University. The world wide web was invented by Tim Berners Lee, a professor at MIT and also at Oxford. Prof Geoff Hinton, one of the godfathers of AI, whose research of several decades contributed to AI phenomena, is a professor at University of Toronto.
All the above statements are facts and you can verify them from independent sources and references
But can you cite any reference saying that institutionalized education destroys minds.
Otherwise, I will say that your statement is only an anecdote, based on your personal experience, and not a “fact”.
Saswata Shankar De
• 2nd
For the regular person, it may do more harm than good as well. And definitely does the harm of cultivating ego while believing it to be humility. I would share the research, but let me share a book instead, which has all the research - The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan.
Here's a discussion between Taleb and Caplan by the way - pretty insightful -> https://medium.com/conversations-with-tyler/bryan-caplan-nassim-taleb-tyler-cowen-higher-education-college-fc4b845fe30e
And here (finally), is Oppenheimer in his own words. TLDR; he hated his time at Cambridge. Its also in the movie, btw. Didn't you watch it?
Pooja Rungta
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Institutions can shape us, but they don’t define us.
What truly defines us is how much we continue to learn after we leave those gates.
Aashish Agrawal
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Simran Koul
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Rest are kidding themselves. :)
Aashish Agrawal
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Gopal Krishna
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Hari Sundararajan
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> Honestly, I don’t mind it.
and then goes on to make a whole post about it ...
👍
Aashish Agrawal
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Hari Sundararajan
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Then again, I also frequently see posts on my feed about start up founders and other hiring managers who make posts about how they explicitly do not hire from tier 1 colleges and seek out people from "lower" tier colleges because, in their opinion, their company culture meshes better with non-tier-1 folks.
It's a strange world we live in.
Aashish Agrawal
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Tirtha Mukherjee
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Hari Sundararajan
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Smruti Ranjan Nayak
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Education shapes you, yes — but so do failures, struggles, and real-life experiences.
And those lessons don’t come with an institute tag.
In the end, it’s not where you studied, it’s what you’ve learned and how you use it that defines you.
Aashish Agrawal
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Niharikaa Kaur Sodhi
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Rahul Mandal
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That’s why others emphasise not having it: to prove that impact doesn’t need a stamp.
Their defiance is a rebellion against lazy credentialism. You don’t mock IIT/IIM/ISB by saying you’re not from them. You mock the system that made them the only valid measure of excellence. Thats about it.
Aashish Agrawal
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Tushar Rokade
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Divyansh Vatsa
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Any my only response is, "Why write IIT before actully explaning our qualities."Your college defines your hardwork in past, specially during school days but what's more crucial is how you've shaped yourself after college. What are your accomplishments and above all, what skills do you possess.
And Hats off to recrutires who post a job saying "Tier 1 preferred" as if they're hiring with the same mindset. Skills gayi bhard me, degree se kaam karvyange\.
Aashish Agrawal
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Divyansh Vatsa
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Prasad Panandikar • 2nd
But that doesn't mean others are not as good. I have seen equally good and some even better. They were by individual merit not based on the system.
Aashish Agrawal
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Ankita Ghosh
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Ali Muzaffar
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Many of us try to find something that makes our identity shine, a marker of uniqueness. But I agree with you, Aashish, saying “Not from IIT” feels more defensive than defining. If I were a recruiter or a reader, it would actually leave a negative impression.
That said, I do feel that occasionally reminding oneself or sharing “Not from IIT” in the right context, can be a positive source of motivation. For example, when speaking to students who couldn’t make it into such institutions and feel disheartened, it can be empowering to show that success isn’t limited to a particular label or college.
But using it as a continuous digital identity or brand tagline feels like overkill. True originality and strength of character come from those who take pride in their own journeys. As you rightly said, it’s about “what defines you.”
Aashish Agrawal
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Shahana Roy Chowdhury • 3rd+
These institutes hold their own merit , however it also doesn't mean that those who didnt make it here are good-for-nothing or at best eligible for lower executive class jobs only.
Aashish Agrawal
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Anusha Sajjan Gandla
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Ayush Singh
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The real education was learning that intelligence comes in so many forms.
My batchmate, who could derive complex equations, couldn’t parallel park to save his life, while my neighbour, who never went to college, built a thriving business from scratch.
Smart is everywhere. Humility is the real superpower.
Aashish Agrawal
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Richa Sahu
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Arijit Sanyal
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Raymond Rozario
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I'm of the opinion that certainly prestigious institutions could provide different perspectives. BUT it's pretty backward for anyone to think that others do not produce equivalent skills. Especially where job listings love to show off "we are an equal opportunity employer". Super nuanced.
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Manushree Rao
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Somesh Ghosh
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Ojas Barve 🇮🇳
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Gunnreet Kaur
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Chitrakshi Bhutani
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Chitrakshi Bhutani
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Ayan Mandal
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Piyush Dhatrak • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Yash Annadate
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Saurabh Seth
• 2nd
Education gives you a platform. Growth comes from how you use it.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Dr. Jaydeep Khalpada
• 2nd
We studied in non ac classrooms with wooden benches and no foam. And of course, anyone around can smarter, sharper or brighter. The humbleness we learn there cannot be learnt otherwise.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Preeti .
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Krish Gupta
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Shantanu Joshi
• 2nd
In the time when markets are overflowing with mediocre and so called "growth-hackers" , if people think putting up your life and hard work's achievement as "SHOW-OFF" , I genuinely feel we are up for total annihilation of quality & excellence because the IQ-EQ-MQ-FQ of a country dies the moment it starts restructuring the starting and finishing lines just so that everyone wins......
YOU WORKED FOR IT
YOU DESERVE IT
SHOW OFF OR BRAG
YOU HAVE EARNED IT SIR....
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Shantanu Joshi
• 2nd
Guess you already saw that
Thanks for sharing
Means a lot
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Harmanjot Singh
• 3rd+
It’s not about mocking IITians. It’s about how, in India, we’ve built this perception that someone from IIT is automatically more capable or reliable than someone who didn’t make it in.
Even today, some companies still prefer hiring IIT graduates.
On the other hand, many IITians proudly market their ventures with tags like “Built by IITians” — which only reinforces the hierarchy we’ve created ourselves.
It’s a social structure that still lingers, even if unintentionally.
I just hope one day we move past these labels and focus more on building than on showing off whether someone is from IIT or not.
Life is much bigger than that.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
1. Every country and everything in the world has some criteria for selection. One might not agree with that criteria but it can not be wished away.
2. Brands are not new to the world. IIT is a brand because it has given results over sonmany decades. Its not just for the sake of it.
3. Everyone is free to put whatever in their bios and profiles- its just that its strange we are more keen on showing where we did not go or work than being proud of showing where we went and worked
Pawan Tiwari
• 3rd+
Aashish Agrawal
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Suraj Munde • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Debdeep Sur
• 3rd+
Aashish Agrawal
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Raj Kumar • 2nd
It literally defines your Linkedin Profile. You didn't even say ISB, you had to show off the Hyd part too because ISB has multiple campus now.
If it doesn't define you then remove it from your bio.
"As if mocking them somehow makes you superior." Now I think of it, that's satire. When all IIT, IIMs folks identity is defined by their college writing this is cracking a joke about it.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Hariom V.
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Mohammed Kamranuzzaman
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Shobhit Kaul • 2nd
For eg. I had to show house to another renting couple who would takeover from my 3 yr tenure. The guy "casually" dropped that he is some high percentage type guy from one of such institutes.
Totally unnecessary. I did not even register the names and wanted them to leave (perhaps wrongly perceiving them as snobs)
but like any tool, wrong place wrong time only gives pain and delays.
To those who use these tags as Heraldry.. I would say, grow up. We all know you must have achieved much by this time in life. Don't do the peocock dance to show it off.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Shobhit Kaul • 2nd
And any of those who mock any earned education do not understand the value of learning itself. Let alone the years of churning it took to make it an Understanding.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Narendra Jain
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Vaibhav Vats Shukla • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Pratyush Kumar Jha
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Abdul Azeez
• 3rd+
When people write "Not from IIT/IIM," it's not always mockery. Often it's saying "I built this without that launchpad" - which required a different kind of grit.
These institutions offered some value, but they also created artificial scarcity. Not everyone brilliant could access them due to economics, geography, or timing.
Them offering online courses now is desperation - talent was always everywhere. The credentials weren't.
AI levels that playing field. That's sad for people from these institutions - it was overdue from a long time.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Michael Krishnan
• 3rd+
Aashish Agrawal
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Bhargavi Ramadugu • 2nd
I believe there will always be people who reject the idea that educational pedigree defines potential, and those who conform to it. The truth is, most in these two categories are still seeking validation in different forms. (including myself...I mention ISB in my profile :))
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Eesha Agarwal
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Akuthota Sai Prasad
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Prithviraj Srinivasan
• 2nd
Minds are shaped through openness to learn, making the best of where you are, and humility.
Aashish Agrawal
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Ajim Mallick
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Anand Samat • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Pranav Joshi
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Shouvik Debnath • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Sri Ramachandra Murty, K • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Rish Agarwal • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Sheel J.
• 2nd
Being surrounded by amazing peers.. sure does humble one down. and pushes the ceiling to learn & grow lot higher.
Aashish Agrawal
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Juhi Gahlot Sarkar
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Juhi Gahlot Sarkar
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Kiran Gupte
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Udit Kumar
• 2nd
May or may not be, they have achieved something in their life instead of being from an IIT/IIM which was tough to achieve and may be that's why they write this in their profile as an achievement.
Even though, celebration is meant to be small not defining the whole profile all the time.
Achieve a milestone and move to next.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Priyanshu .
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Sahejneet Kaur
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Tanmoy Dasgupta
• 2nd
I’ve been closely associated with many IIT folks—some of them are genuinely brilliant, but most are pretty ordinary. The whole point is that it’s not about IIT or IIM or any other tag; it’s about continuous improvement that makes a person better.
And yes, most of them (over 90%) are not humble at all.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Samyat Sahu
• 3rd+
Aashish Agrawal
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Dhaval Gohel
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Sumit Mukherjee
• 3rd+
Aashish Agrawal
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Debjyoti Mukherjee
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Amit Gupta MRICS
• 3rd+
Aashish Agrawal
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Ayman Mateen
• 2nd
Might as well add "Not from Stanford/MIT/Cambridge" while you're at it 😂
Aashish Agrawal
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Saurabh Arora
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Raghul Gandhi
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Nabeel Ahmad
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Neel Bhende
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Neel Bhende
• 2nd
Mohammed Faizan Lateef
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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lalrinsanga rokhum
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Kriti Doneria
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Kriti Doneria
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Dr.Malay Patel
• 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Samrat Sen • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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KRISHNA AWASTHI • 2nd
Aashish Agrawal
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Prerna T.
• 2nd
ISB” or “Ex-FAANG,” people wear both pride and defiance as badges.
Truth is, entry gates differ, but curiosity and persistence are the real alumni network.
I have the highest regards and met the best mentors/ humans from none of these.
Aashish Agrawal
Author
Hitesh A.
• 2nd
Gautam Bhasin
• 2nd
SANJAY TULI • 2nd